Sir William Rothenstein

1872 - 1945

Rothenstein was a polymath and a key figure of early 20th century British art - a painter, printmaker, draughtsman, educator, lecturer and writer on art, known in particular for his work as a war artist and as a portraitist. Born into a German-Jewish family in Bradford and went on to train at the Slade School of Fine Art and the Académie Julian in Paris, where he met and was mentored by Whistler, Degas and Toulouse-Lautrec and shared a studio with Charles Conder. In 1898 Rothenstein co-founded the influential Carfax Gallery in London, exhibiting, among others, the work of Augustus John, Philip Wilson Steer, Auguste Rodin and Walter Sickert. In 1899 Rothenstein married the actress Alice Knewstub (stage name Alice Kingsley), and they had four children together: John, Betty, Rachel and Michael. Rothenstein often drew and painted Alice and the children, recording their family life together, often in his favourite red chalk, and painted some influential and emotionally powerful interiors and figure paintings. These and his support were influential for his contemporaries and the younger generation of emerging artists, such as Paul Nash, Wyndham Lewis and Mark Gertler. He was principal of the Royal College of Art from 1920 to 1935, responsible for its development as the most important post-graduate art college in the UK. Rothenstein also Both William and his brother Albert changed their names to Rutherston during World War I because of anti-German sentiment.